Inhibitory effects of methanolic extracts from the stem barks of ten Mexican Bursera Jacq. ex L. species on the activity of α-amylase and acetylcholinesterase from Tenebrio molitor

Abstract

Methanolic stem bark extracts from ten Mexican Bursera Jacq. ex L. species were evaluated in vitro with regard to their inhibitory activity against two Tenebrio molitor-derived enzymes. Seven extracts (B. bicolor, B. copallifera, B. fagaroides, B. grandifolia, B. lancifolia, B. linanoe, and B. longipes) reduced α-amylase activity by 55.37% to 96.25%, with three samples proving to be particularly potent α-amylase inhibitors (B. grandifolia, B. lancifolia, and B. linanoe; IC₅₀ = 162, 132, and 186 µg/mL, respectively). In contrast, no extract inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity by more than 39.94%. Quantitative HPLC analysis did not reveal any clear correlation between the species-specific flavonoid or phenolic acid profiles and the respective extracts’ enzyme inhibitory activity. The findings reported herein do not only contribute to improving the current state of knowledge regarding the enzyme inhibitory potential of the Bursera genus, but could also lead to the development of new sustainable bioinsecticides.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Bursera Jacq. ex L
• Burseraceae
• α-amylase
• acetylcholinesterase
• enzyme inhibitor
• bioinsecticide
• Tenebrio molitor

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by project IN223015, DGAPA-PAPIIT-UNAM, and the Facultad de Ciencias, UNAM, in the context of PDRT’s undergraduate studies.